Moldable Collar Stay for Shirts

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a moldable collar stay for a shirt collar which traverses the periphery of the shirt collar with each end of said moldable stay being inserted into the prefabricated collar stay pockets of the shirt. The moldable collar stay may be either hidden permanently within the shirt fabric, or rest removably underneath the periphery of the shirt collar. The moldable stay body includes two end points which are identically formed and connected by a moldable material concomitant with the periphery of the shirt collar. Each tapered end point comfortably inserts into the prefabricated collar stay pockets. The shirt wearer may then adjust the moldable stay across the periphery of the collar to the desired collar position. The present invention also includes a shirt construction with an integrated moldable collar stay.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an apparatus for molding a shirt collar into a user determined position through the use of a dynamic collar stay made of an alloy with shape memory, plastic, a plastic with shape memory, or bendable wire. The present invention also includes a shirt construction with an integrated moldable collar stay.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

The use of collar stays with shirts has been known and commercially available for a long period of time. For example, the collar stays are permanently imbedded in the collar and in other shirt constructions, a channel is formed within the collar for receiving the collar stay. Prior art constructions utilize plastic collar stays which have tapered lower ends, and such collar stays are generally rigid and non bendable.

Collar stays are provided for the inside and outside of the shirt collars made of plastic and metal. The primary goal of those stay designs are to provide ridged support, but not to customize the shape and direction of said supports. For instance, button type stays only hold the collar down and does nothing in keeping the collar form or shape in a customizable fashion. Most traditional collar stays, both inside and outside types, end up out of shape and will loose their rigidity. Outside type collar stays are generally limited in support and do not provide customizable support along the periphery of the shirt collar neckline. Metal stays which have springs for tension are well known to give shirt collars an unnatural bulky appearance, and are not capable of maintaining their shape or customization. Further, they are subject to being lost as their size is small. The present invention, while bendable and customizable, is of sufficient size as to not be readily misplaced. Further, the present device may be integrated into a shirt design and not readily accessible to the wearer.

The nearest prior art to the present invention describes a collar stay in the following manner: “A shape retaining collar device for use with garments of wearing apparel as for example, a shirt having a torso covering segment. The shape retaining collar device in the garment construction includes a first fabric portion which is attachable to the torso covering segment and which is generally non-exposed to a viewer . . . . Moreover, the second fabric portion terminates in a pair of edges which are forwardly presented to a viewer of the collar . . . ” This is inapposite to the present invention in that the present invention may utilize existing prefabricated stay pockets of existing shirts, and extend through the periphery of the entire shirt collar thereby allowing the entire shirt collar to be customized into new and unique positions.

It is well known that the right collar on the right type of face is an important aspect of wearing a shirt. The collar should be customizable to emphasize, or deemphasize, various facial features of a person. The function of a shirt collar, in part, is to properly frame the face and accentuate that person's facial strengths. The present invention allows a user to maximize and improve the function of his or her shirt collar. No other invention has improved upon the function of the shirt collar as it relates to moldable collar stays.

For further examples, see the following prior art:

United States Patent; Extendable Collar 6,986,165 Neff, et al. Jan. 17, 2006 United States Patent; Method and apparatus for 7,409,730 keeping a shirt collar aligned and fastened, magnetically Boos Aug. 12, 2008 United States Patent; Collar Shaping Device 7,004,361 Thomas Feb. 28, 2006 United States Patent; Ascot Collar Bar 6,247,207 Nitsche Jun. 19, 2001 United States Paten; Tunnel Collar Shirt 4,967,420 Johnson Nov. 6, 1990 United States Patent; Stayless shirt collar 4,434,512 Hansen Mar. 6, 1984 United States Patent; Collar stay system 4,118,803 Blau Oct. 10, 1978 United States Patent Application; Collar Stay, 20070204374 Shirt Collar, Combination and Method Kind Code A1 Bier; Jason J.; et al. Sep. 6, 2007 United States Patent Application, Faux-shirt 20070094765 girdle Kind Code A1 Summers; Irene A.; et al. May 3, 2007 United States Patent Application; Collar-ring to 20050066425 improve comfort and tie position on a shirt Kind Code A1 Kozlarek, Norman A. Mar. 31, 2005

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention to provide a shape retaining moldable collar device for use which extends from one prefabricated collar stay pocket through the periphery of the collar into the second opposite collar stay pocket, the balance of the device resting comfortably underneath the shirt collar.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a moldable shape retaining collar device formed from a bendable wire and of the type stated which can be effectively utilized with a wide variety of shirts and other garment constructions which are already used in the market place.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a moldable shape retaining collar device formed from a shape memory alloy and of the type stated which can be effectively utilized with a wide variety of shirts and other garment constructions which are already used in the market place.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a moldable shape retaining collar device formed from a plastic or plastic with shape memory and of the type stated which can be effectively utilized with a wide variety of shirts and other garment constructions which are already used in the market place.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a shape retaining collar device of the type stated which utilizes relatively rigid but yet moldable collar stays throughout the periphery of the entire shirt collar.

It is an additional object of the present invention to show a shirt construction with a moldable collar stay device prefabricated between the fabric of the shirt collar and the prefabricated collar stay pockets of the shirt such that the moldable collar stay is non removable and integrated into the shirt.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a moldable collar stay for a shirt collar which traverses the periphery of the shirt collar with each end of said moldable stay being inserted into the prefabricated collar stay pockets of the shirt. The moldable collar stay may be either hidden permanently within the shirt fabric, or rest removably underneath the periphery of the shirt collar. The moldable stay body includes two end points which are identically formed and connected by a moldable material concomitant with the periphery of the shirt collar. Each tapered end point comfortably inserts and rests within the prefabricated collar stay pockets. The shirt wearer may then adjust the moldable stay across the periphery of the collar to the desired collar position. The present invention's moldable and customizable collar stays are made of a connected bendable wire capable of retaining its shape under normal wear even if electively deformed by the user. The bendable wire, while capable of deformation by a user's firm touch, remains rigid enough to retain its customized shape.

In another embodiment, the moldable collar stay may be made of an alloy with shape memory or molded plastic. A shape memory alloy is an alloy that “remembers” its shape, and can be returned to that shape after being deformed, by applying heat to the alloy. In the present invention, a shape memory alloy or moldable plastic can be used to mold the collar stay into a predetermined shape. Unlike the bendable wire embodiment of the invention, this second embodiment allows for the recreation of various classic collar styles and flares across the periphery of the shirt collar. Shape memory alloys include nickel-titanium, copper-aluminum-nickel, copper-zinc-aluminum, and iron-manganese-silicon. This embodiment may also use shape-memory plastic that can be formed at room temperature.

The principal object of the present moldable collar stay is to provide an improved collar stay integrated between the two prefabricated collar stay pockets which allow for user determined collar shapes or collar shapes which are predetermined at a factory prior to manufacturing and making the shirt available to the general public. The present invention may also be pre-constructed within the fabric of the shirt, or otherwise concealed and not removable by the user in ordinary use.

As stated above, it is well known that the right collar on the right type of face is an important aspect of wearing a shirt. The collar should be customizable to emphasize, or deemphasize, various facial features of a person. The function of a shirt collar, in part, is to properly frame the face and accentuate that person's facial strengths. The present invention allows a user to maximize and improve the function of his or her shirt collar. Another general object of the present invention is to provide the fashion industry with a simple tool by which to mold and shape shirt collars while achieving a consistent look between performances.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a shirt with and embodying the collar device of the present invention;

FIG. 1A is the collar of the shirt in a front elevational view of a shirt with and embodying the collar device of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is the prefabricated collar stay pocket of the shirt in a front elevational view of a shirt with and embodying the collar device of the present invention;

FIG. 1C is the molded collar stay of the shirt in a front elevational view of a shirt with and embodying the collar device of the present invention;

FIG. 1D is the molded collar stay, tapered end, of the shirt in a front elevational view of a shirt with and embodying the collar device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a shirt with and embodying the collar device of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is the collar of the shirt in a side elevational view of a shirt with and embodying the collar device of the present invention;

FIG. 2B is the prefabricated collar stay pocket of the shirt in a side elevational view of a shirt with and embodying the collar device of the present invention;

FIG. 2C is the molded collar stay of the shirt in a side elevational view of a shirt with and embodying the collar device of the present invention;

FIG. 2D is the molded collar stay, tapered end, of the shirt in a side elevational view of a shirt with and embodying the collar device of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of a portion of the shirt in a region where the shape retaining collar device is adjoined to the shirt and showing the same lines thereof;

FIG. 3A is the collar of the shirt in a rear elevational view of a shirt with and embodying the collar device of the present invention;

FIG. 3B is the prefabricated collar stay pocket of the shirt in a rear elevational view of a shirt with and embodying the collar device of the present invention;

FIG. 3C is the molded collar stay of the shirt in a rear elevational view of a shirt with and embodying the collar device of the present invention;

FIG. 3D is the molded collar stay, tapered end, of the shirt in a rear elevational view of a shirt with and embodying the collar device of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a shirt with and embodying the collar device of the present invention;

FIG. 4A is the collar of the shirt in a front elevational view of a shirt with and embodying the collar device of the present invention;

FIG. 4B is the prefabricated collar stay pocket of the shirt in a front elevational view of a shirt with and embodying the collar device of the present invention;

FIG. 4C is the molded collar stay of the shirt in a front elevational view of a shirt with and embodying the collar device of the present invention;

FIG. 4D is the molded collar stay, tapered end, of the shirt in a front elevational view of a shirt with and embodying the collar device of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of a portion of the shirt in a region where the shape retaining collar device is adjoined to the shirt and showing the same lines thereof;

FIG. 5A is the collar of the shirt in a rear elevational view of a shirt with and embodying the collar device of the present invention;

FIG. 5B is the prefabricated collar stay pocket of the shirt in a rear elevational view of a shirt with and embodying the collar device of the present invention;

FIG. 5C is the molded collar stay of the shirt in a rear elevational view of a shirt with and embodying the collar device of the present invention;

FIG. 5D is the molded collar stay, tapered end, of the shirt in a rear elevational view of a shirt with and embodying the collar device of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the molded collar stay; and

FIG. 6A is the molded collar stay of the shirt in a rear elevational view of a shirt with and embodying the collar device of the present invention. 

1. A molded collar stay device for use on a shirt having a collar, said molded collar stay device comprising: a molded stay body having a tapered first end and tapered second end, said molded stay body integrally formed between said tapered first end and said tapered second end, said tapered first end of said molded stay body connectedly diverging through the periphery of said collar towards said tapered second end, wherein said tapered first end and said tapered second end both rest within the prefabricated collar stay pockets of said shirt.
 2. The molded collar stay device accordingly to claim 1, wherein said molded stay body is formed from an alloy with shape memory.
 3. The molded collar stay device accordingly to claim 1, wherein said molded stay body is formed from plastic.
 4. The molded collar stay device accordingly to claim 1, wherein said molded stay body is formed from a plastic with shape memory.
 5. A moldable collar stay device for use on a shirt having a collar, said moldable collar stay device comprising: a deformable stay body having a tapered first end and tapered second end, said deformable stay body integrally formed between the tapered first end and tapered second end, the tapered first end of the deformable stay body connectedly diverging through the periphery of said collar towards the tapered second end, wherein the tapered first end and tapered second end both rest within the prefabricated collar stay pockets of the shirt.
 6. The collar stay device accordingly to claim 5, wherein said deformable stay body is a wire element capable of maintaining its shape after bending.
 7. The collar stay device according to claim 6, wherein said moldable collar stay device is prefabricated between the fabric of the shirt and the prefabricated collar stay pockets of the shirt.
 8. A shirt construction comprising: (a) a shirt body portion, (b) a shirt collar on said body portion and forming a neckline to at least partially encircle the neck of a wearer, said shirt collar having a pair of prefabricated collar stay pockets, (c) a molded stay body having a tapered first end and tapered second end, said molded stay body integrally formed between said tapered first end and said tapered second end, said tapered first end of said molded stay body connectedly diverging through the periphery of said collar towards said tapered second end, wherein said tapered first end and said tapered second end both rest within the prefabricated collar stay pockets of said shirt; (d) a retaining means to retain said molded collar stay with respect to said shirt collar across the periphery of said collar; and (e) a concealing means to conceal said molded collar stay with respect to said shirt collar across the periphery of said collar.
 9. A shirt construction comprising: (a) a shirt body portion, (b) a shirt collar on said body portion and forming a neckline to at least partially encircle the neck of a wearer, said shirt collar having a pair of prefabricated collar stay pockets, (c) a moldable stay body having a tapered first end and tapered second end, said moldable stay body integrally formed between said tapered first end and said tapered second end, said tapered first end of said moldable stay body connectedly diverging through the periphery of said collar towards said tapered second end, wherein said tapered first end and said tapered second end both rest within the prefabricated collar stay pockets of said shirt; (d) a retaining means to retain said moldable collar stay with respect to said shirt collar across the periphery of said collar; and (e) a concealing means to conceal said moldable collar stay with respect to said shirt collar across the periphery of said collar. 